I love nature
Nature is cool!
The forest is my classroom
The earth is my school
Trees are my teachers
Animals are my friends
And on this Earth all life depends!
We all are aware that
we need to change! We need to change our habits of consumption, of life style, our waste management (argh all this plastic !!! ) ! it becomes more apparent more urgent every day !
I remember during one Chandolin retreat when an "older" friend/practicioneer
presented the 1st of the 5 Mindfulness Trainings to the Sangha...protection of Life...
He spoke about small steps he took to reduce his energy consumption, turning off the lights when not in the room..segregating his waste carefully etc but that he
felt his contributions were so tiny, so insignificant compared to the HUGE steps that would be needed to be taken in order to "make a difference"
But he said...and this I will never forget...: But what I DO is : I really am PRESENT to nature...I
see her...dialogue with her, admire her, I walk in nature, I create a real relationship with her every day..a relationship of trust of love and through this I feel I do my best to protect her!
Creating a relationship takes time, takes daily attention
...it is not some kind of "abstract ideal" or "digital or conceptual " relationship...love needs time, needs care, touching, feeling, seeing, listening, smelling, tasting, sharing our time, but not once in a while but as a daily practice...or at least
whenever possible !...and setting priorities to BE with our loved ones whenever possible...BEING in nature whenever possible!
Was it Jane Goodall who said : how will the next generation, the many many city kids, care and protect nature if they
did not experience her, enjoy her, create a real relationship with her?
We care and protect what we have eperienced and touched and what we love and know deeply
Tho and me we try to walk every day in nature...we try to swimm in the lake,
in the ocean whenever possible...climb on mountains...sit on the grass...smell the fresh air whenever possible...look at stars at night...experience the fog, the rain the sun with all our joy gratitude and of course listen to her sounds ( ha ha the monkeys
in Cat Tien!) but also to her suffering...
In all our retreats we include "HER" as a teacher...in Chandolin her teachings are so powerful: teachings of stability, patience, beauty, transformation, contentment, great teachings of letting go...of
being stable, fluid, strong and soft...teachings of impermanence...
We include her in all our projects...biodynamic garden in TTG...Happy Schools...as we know that without her...nothing is possible...and taking care of her is taking care of US
I
wish my grandkids to enjoy and learn from her more and more......I wish all kids grandkids and next generations to find Peace JOY creativity and contentment in her Presence
And you...please take time for her...
Written on a lovel da in Hoi An...by
the sea